After a track-record equaling mile in the $330,000 Dan Patch Stakes by Lather Up on Friday, Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s track surface continued to sizzle on Saturday, Aug. 10 as the evening’s 10-race card was highlighted by a track-record performance in the featured event of the evening.

Bridge To Jesses, with driver John DeLong in the sulky, became Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s newest track-record holder with a 1:51.1 performance in the $20,000 Open Trot.

Trotting a :26.3 final quarter, Bridge To Jesses used the long Hoosier Park stretch to his advantage and rallied from well off the pace to win by three lengths. The 1:51.1 clocking marks the fastest trotting mile over Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s oval, lowering the overall trotting track record of 1:51.2 set by Homicide Hunter in Grand Circuit action in 2017.

Leaving from post 5 in abbreviated field of six, Bridge To Jesses was unhurried from the gate and settled along the pylons in fifth. Two OB Wonkenobi and Sam Widger were the quickest away from the gate and grabbed the lead through the opening panel :26.2. Churita and Trace Tetrick also left and grabbed the coveted pocket seat with Perfect Chapter As and Peter Wrenn next in line third. As the field hit the second station in :55.2, Ross Leonard had Donatover pointed to the front and he grabbed the lead approaching the three-quarters in 1:24.1.

Just as the leaders began to tire, Bridge To Jesses wound his attack. DeLong tipped Bridge To Jesses to the middle of the track and the veteran trotter powered home to get the win. Churita, who is quickly approaching $1 million in lifetime purse earnings, rallied well for second while Donatover, the post-time favourite, held on for third. Bridge To Jesses returned $2.10 at the betting windows.

Bridge To Jesses is trained by Roger Welch, who also co-owns the six-year-old trotter in partnership with W. DeLong, W. DeLong, Sth Blt and R. Delong. With the win, the Indiana Sires Stakes Champion recorded his second win of the season from 11 starts while trotting a lifetime best. The gelded son of Jailhouse Jesse-Bridge To Nowhere increased his lifetime bankroll to $863,605 and sports a 80-36-17-10 lifetime record. The win was one of two winners on the card for trainer Roger Welch and one of three victories for driver John DeLong on the evening’s program.

(with files from Harrah's Hoosier Park)